o rally; and, the turning-point
once passed, I soon mended rapidly.

The moment that my recovery seemed at all probable, Bob got the tents
rigged up ashore again; and one fine morning when I appeared a little
stronger than usual, and seemed able to bear the removal, I was
transferred to the boat and thence to the shore, where my own hammock,
carefully slung and provided with clean linen, awaited me. The change
from the confinement of the small cabin to the tent, the fresh and balmy
air, scent-laden from the adjacent groves, and, above all, the view from
the open end of the tent of the clear sparkling water, gently ruffled by
the passing breeze, with the tree-crowned, sun-lighted cliffs on either
side, did more for me than the most skilful doctor or the most potent
drugs could have effected, and I felt that I was drawing in new life
with every inhalation.

Bob, too, was indefatigable in his exertions in my behalf; now ranging
the woods with his airgun, in search of a species of pigeon which he had
discovered; anon going away in the canoe (in which Ella had escaped, and
which he had contrived to retain) to the rocks, and bringing in sundry
delicately-flavoured fish; and then off to the woods again for fruit, of
which the island afforded any quantity of various kinds.

At length the day arrived when I was considered strong enough to listen
to Bob's story, and be made acquainted with all that had occurred since
the disastrous afternoon of our walk on the south side of the island.

"You must know," he began, "that as soon as I left you and your precious
little dearie here ashore, I went straight away back to the channel, and
anchored the craft in a bit of a nook in the first reach, where I
thought as I should find some sport. Well, I didn't get so much as a
nibble, and, at last--whether 'twas the heat of the sun, or what 'twas,
I can't tell ye--I dropped clean off to sleep. How long I slept I can't
say, but I was woke up by the tug-tugging of the line, which I'd made
fast with two or three turns round my finger. I started to haul in, and
had got my fish very nigh out of water, when he broke away, and I lost
him. I was just baiting my hook afresh, when I thought I heard your
rifle; and I fancied I'd overstayed my time, and that you was firing a
signal to jine company. So I rouses up my killick, and makes sail; and
whilst I was doing it, I hears two reports, one close upon t'other. I
guessed at once't that something